Process of producing refractory compounds



JAMES L. HASTINGS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESN EASSIGNMENTS, TO THE WVELSBACH INCANDESCENT GAS LIGHT COMPANY, OFGLOUCESTER CITY, NEV JERSEY.

PROCESS OF PRODUCING REFRACTORY COMPOUNDS.

I SPECIFICATION forming part of. Letters Patent No. 396,693, datedJanuary 22, 1889.

Application filed March 20, 1886. Serial No. 195,924. (No specimens.)

To aZl whom it may concern: tium, calcium, magnesium, barium, and alu-50 Be it known that I, JAMES L. HASTINGS, a minium, and for fluxes orbinders I may use citizen of the United States, residing at Philaa greatvariety of the haloid salts, among dclphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia and which may be mentioned prominently cal- 5 State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain cium iodide, calcium bromide, sodiumchlonew and useful Improvements in the Process ride, strontium chloride,magnesium chloride, 55 of ProducingRefractory Compounds; andI do calciumchloride, calcium fluoride, and maghereby declare the following to beafull, clear, nesiuin iodide. These and other haloid salts and exactdescription of the invention, such are important features in thisinvention. In

IO as will enable others skilled in the art to this application I alsolay stress upon the which it appertains to make and use the same. fluidsused for moistening the powdered min- This invention relates to theprocess of proeral substancessalts, &c.to bring the comducing refractoryand vitreous or crystalline position to the proper plastic condition forcompounds for use in chemical and other arts, molding. Such fluids arepreferably perchlo- I and for incandescent illumination, by means ricacid, peroxide of hydrogen, and potassium of a gas-flame or other sourceof heat, said permanganate dissolved in water, any one or 65 compoundbeing adapted for molding into more of them being used in any particulararticles of various forms and for coating nlecompound, since I havefound that by their tallic and other articles to protect them from useimproved results are secured.

the oxidizing and corroding influence of air, Having stated the generalnature and immoisture, acids, &c., and from injury by heat. portantfeatures of my invention, I will 110w 70 The plastic compound, whenproperly burned describe in detail particular formulas for or fired, ishighly refractory, very hard, cryscompounds and their method ofpreparation, talline in structure, rough 011 the surface, which I havefound among many others to white or opalescent, andpracticallyinfusible. give good results.

The principal object of the invention is to Formula No. 1.I take for abase the fol- 75 produce a readily incandescing compound, lowingsubstances: capable of resisting the action of intense heat,

Grains. and particularly adapted for forming incanm m (Bilge i 3 descentburners or attachments for burners g g gfigi g Om e 2 for luumnmtionwith coal'gasv Calcium 50 80 natural s other Source of e Magnesium oxide75 In carrying out my invention I thoroughly Mag carbonate 20 mix andthen combine under the influence of Total 300 a 5 a high heatin a gas orother furnace, or a gasflame in the open air, two or more mineral Thismixture is pulverized and. thoroughly 85 compound bodies orsubstancessuch as oxmixed with a flux or binding material C0111- idcs,carbonates, or sulphates of metals as a posed of the following salts:baseand one or more of the haloid salts Gmms- Calcium 1od1de (comprisingchlorides, bromides, lodides, and

Magnesium chloride fluorides) as a flux or bindlng material, anStrontium chloride so 9 a suitable moistening-fluidas perchloric acidCalcium fluoride or peroxide of hydrogenwhereby the mineral 6 substancesor compounds may be united in Total 45 different proportions (withoutregard to The ingredients of this binder are first chemical equivalents)and caused to crystalground or pulverized separately, forming a lizetogether without losing their solid form. mixture of the consistency ofthin. paste. The For the base of my compounds I preferably pulverizedingredients of the base are added use oxides, carbonates, or sulphatesof stronand mixed with this paste, and at the same time suflicientperchloric acid is added to bring the whole to the proper plasticconsist ence for molding or pressing into rods or tubes or other desiredforms. Articles formed of this plastic composition may be dried at amoderate heat and then fired in the furnace or gas-flame in the usualway.

Another formula, which may be designated 1fJormula No. 2, is prepared asfollows for a ase:

. Grains. Strontium oxide (caustic) Strontium carbonate 65 Calcium oxide85 Calcium carbonate 85 Magnesium oxide 75 Total 375 These ingredientsare pulverized, and at the proper time are mixed with the preparedbinding composition, whichis made up in two batches, differentlyprepared, asstated below. The first part of the binder composition iscomposed of the following salts:

Grains. Calcium iodide 25 Magnesium iodide 20 Magnesium chloride '7 5Strontium chloride 15 Total 135 These salts are mixed and pulverized andthen subjected to heat in a platinum. crucible or small dish until thewater of crystallization is driven off, and after having been brought toa fused state is allowed to cool. It is then pulverized and added to thecomposition fo rm ing the base. None of the chlorine, and but part ofthe iodine, is driven off in the operation of heating, care being takento retain these elements on account of their beneficial effect whenmixed with the base. The object of driving off the water and volatilematter is to get as much chlorine and iodine into the base as possible,with little or no water of crystallization, as if such water is notremoved the finished composition is apt to melt down under the heat ofthe Bunsen burner or furnace when being fired.

The second part of the binder composition is composed of the same saltsas the first part, as follows:

Grains. Calcium iodide 20 Magnesium iodide 20 Magnesium chloride 75Strontium chloride 20 Total 135 This mixture is simply worked into apaste and mixed with the base. All ingredients of the composition aremixed together and pulverized, and the mixture is moistened, either withperchloric acid or a solution of permanganate of potassium in water orperoxide of hydrogen, so as to form a plastic composition suitable formolding in forms.

Another formula for a compound which readily becomes incandescent andgives a good light is formed as follows for a base- Magnesium oxideTotal 520 To these pulverized ingredients there is added a bindercomposition composed as follows:

Grains. Calcium 20 Calcium bromide 20 Sodium chloride 20 Strontiumchloride 50 Magnesium chloride 100 Calcium chloride 30 Calcium fluoride30 Total 270 These salts are pulverized and mixed with ingredients ofthe base, sufficient glycerine being used to form a plastic compositionfor molding into forms.

The plastic composition is molded into slender rods or pencils and intotubes or other desired forms, and may be coated upon articles of metalor other material, and in such forms is subjected to a low dryingtemperature to drive off the moisture or more volatile matter, and thento a high temperature in a gas or other furnace, and may afterward besuspended in a gas-flame for completing the process of burning and fortesting and proving the finished articles.

The proportions of mineral ingredients above mentioncd for forming thecompounds and various forms of burners and burner attachments givesatisfactory results; but I do not limit myself to the proportionsstated, as

other proportions will give good results, and they may be varied withoutdeparting from my invention.

I have used a great variety of haloid bodies or salts in formingincandescing compoundssuchas chlorides of zirconium, zinc, lead, cobalt,aluminium, ammonium, antimony, nickel, manganese, lithium, iron, iridiumand osmium, copper, cromium, bismuth, barium, platinum, potassium,thalium, tin, and uraniumbesides those mentioned in the above formulas,and I have also used many of the iodides and bromides of these metals. Ihave made over two hundred variations from or modifications of theformulas above stated, using materials for producing light byincandescence, and have had good results in each trial. Various specialmixtures or compounds of mineral substances, some of which are abovementioned, are made the subjects of applications for patents, and I makeno claim to such special compounds in this application.

Having described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s

1. The process of producing a refractory salts-such as chlorides,iodides, fluorides, or bromides of metalsthen moisten'ing the mixturewith perchloric acid or its equivalent, then molding the mixture andsubjecting it to a 10W drying-heat, and finally exposing the compound toa high temperature, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

JAMES L. HASTINGS.

lVitnesses:

CHAs. MATHEWS, J 1 JOHN L. STEWART.

